Royal inspirations

Modern knitting design

27. March - 20. June 2010

An exhibition with unique models from the art group ”Netmaskerne” created on the occasion of her Majesty Queen Margrethe's 70th birthday on 16 April 2010.

The unique models are inspired by dresses and gowns worn by the Queen throughout the years. They are exhibited with a photo that shows her majesty in the different dresses.

The dresses which inspired the designers cover a wide range in both time and type of dress. There are wonderful gala dresses, casual wear and more unusual garments e.g. a traditional Greenlandic tailor made suit.
“Netmaskerne” has existed for 10 years and experiments with the development of modern, innovative Danish knitting design. The union has more than 70 members of whom 24 participate in this juried exhibition at the museum of Amalienborg.

The exhibition shows the participating designers’ great creativity and professionalism in their work with yarn, cut and patterns. The clear starting point of the Queen’s dresses also provides an insight into how earlier days’ fashion can inspire new exiting variations. Visitors to the exhibition, which is located in the beautiful high-ceilinged former city council hall, will be able to explore how inspiration and innovative design relate to each other in the tension field between tradition and change.

Among the 24 participating designers it is worth mentioning Lone Bullinger, who has been know for many years in artisan circles and has had exhibitions in Denmark and abroad; Jytte Slente and Lotte Kjær, who are equally known from exhibitions, as guest speakers and as authors of several popular knitting books. Also Eva Folke should be mentioned, since she has not only designed and knitted for the exhibition, but also acted as coordinator between “Netmaskerne” and the museums.

Censure committee
Behind the selection of the knitted dresses is a censure committee consisting of three participants:

Birgit Jencold, museum director and daily manager of “The Royal Danish Collections” at the museum of Amalienborg.

Hans Christian Madsen, knitting designer. He holds a Bachelor degree from Kolding School of Design, a Masters degree from the Royal College of Art in London 2007. He has his own knitting company and was recently hired as chief designer at Bruuns Bazaar in Copenhagen in their department for men’s wear.

Ole Strange, knitting designer and owner of “Strange Collection” in Ry. He has throughout the years acted as censor in knitting at design schools in Denmark but also abroad.

The exhibition will be shown at the Museum of Amalienborg until 14 March and then the Women’s Museum will take it over.

For further information, contact:
Merete Ipsen, Women’s Museum, T 86 1964 84 or mi@kvindemuseet.dk
Eva Folke, the exhibition group from “Netmaskerne”, T 23626970 or folke@webspeed.dk